This has been an insanely saturated month - we hosted 7 great album release shows by Seth Augustus and Mark Growden at our headquarters at 953 Valencia St, SF, and attended our first big festival - we're sending this update from Austin, TX.
We are very excited to welcome Kacey Johansing to Porto Franco. She will be playing a set at Sean Hayes' album release party on March 24 at the New Parish in Oakland. Buy tickets here, it's likely to sell out.
Pianist Billy White's debut recording, First Things First, is a glimpse into a musically omnivorous world reminiscent of a young Herbie Hancock. The San Francisco-born and New York-based 27-year old has already packed a panoply of experience into his young career: a degree in ethnomusicology from UCLA, a stint with French jazz/hip-hoppers Heezbus while living in Paris, scoring films, and studying Gnawa trance music in Morocco, to name a few. But First Things First is his crowning achievement so far. Featuring Dayna Stephens on saxophone, Ambrose Akinmusire on trumpet, Yunior Terry on bass and Steve Belvilus on drums, the record ripples with influences that reflect White's wide-ranging sensibilities: from modern pianists like Brad Mehldau and Omar Sosa to rhythms inspired by the sounds of subway trains passing overhead.
In late February we started a video blog. The latest post features a beautiful 3-song video podcast from Chasing The Moon. See older videos here.
Now Hiring
We are looking for help with booking, web maintenance, office work. Please send me a note and a resume to music@portofrancorecords.com.
E-Mail List and Street Team
If you're not already on our email list and you'd like to receive regular updates from the Porto Franco Records and Art Parlor, please enter your email at the top right corner of this site. E-mail list subscribers will receive first dibs on free downloads, comp tickets and contests.
We try to not send too many emails, but if you'd like to receive more emails and help us spread the word about our happenings, you can sign up on the special "Street Team" email list by emailing us at music@portofrancorecords.com with Street Team in the subject line.
Upcoming shows:
March 20 - Meklit Hadero
The Great American Music Hall, 9pm, $14, 21
(opening for Sila and the African Rock Special)
859 O'Farrell St
San Francisco, CA 94109
March 24 - Kacey Johansing
The New Parish, 8pm, $17
(opening for Sean Hayes album release show)
579 18th St
Oakland, CA
March 27 - The Nice Guy Trio
The Red Poppy Art House, 8pm (doors 7:30), $10-15 sliding
2698 Folsom St
San Francisco
March 28 - Thorny Brocky (Aaron Novik)
Switchboard Music Festival, 2pm
Dance Mission Theater
3316 24th St
San Francisco
March 28 - Meklit Hadero
The Ethiopian Arts Forum
1051 Pacific Marina
Alameda, CA 94501
March 30 - Patrick Cress' Telepathy
Coda, 11pm, $7
1710 Mission St
San Francisco
April 9 - Thorny Brocky (Aaron Novik)
The Red Poppy Art House, 8pm (doors 7:30), $10-15 sliding
2698 Folsom St
San Francisco
April 15 - Kacey Johansing
with Bart Davenport
Cafe du Nord, 9pm, 21
2174 Market Street
San Francisco
April 16 - Devine's Jug Band
The Plough & Stars
116 Clement Street
San Francisco
May 1 - Kacey Johansing
with Geographer
Sophia's
129 E Street, Suite E
Davis, CA
May 19 - Kacey Johansing - Album Release
with Honeycomb
Rickshaw Stop
155 Fell Street
San Francisco
May 19 - Mitch Marcus Quintet
Bottom of the Hill, 9pm, $12, 21
1233 17th St
San Francisco
May 25 - Mitch Marcus Quintet
Chris' Jazz Cafe
1421 Sansom St
Philadelphia, PA
May 27 - Mitch Marcus Quintet
Rose Restaurant
345 Grand Street
Williamsburg, NY
May 28th - Mitch Marcus Quintet
Drom
85 Avenue A
New York, NY
